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The County of Tulare Public Health Branch confirms two deaths from COVID-19 in the county, one on April 10 and the second on April 14. The individuals were both over 65 and the transmission types were by contact related to Redwood Springs. These are the 14^th and 15^th deaths due to COVID-10 in the county.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the friends and families who lost their loved one due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Public Health Officer. “This virus spreads quickly, so the most important thing you can do is stay home to prevent the spread.”

Tulare County residents must follow these guidelines:

• Stay at home
• Go out only for essential items, such as groceries and medical needs/prescriptions
• Limit outings to no more than two individuals
• Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces frequently
• Wear a facemask if you must go out for essential services

The Public Health Branch asks community members to follow the governor’s stay-at-home order to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID-19. This, and social distancing when you must go out for essential services such as grocery shopping, is the best way to avoid COVID-19. Cloth or other facemasks and coverings may help to reduce COVID-19 transmission by those who may be infected but are not showing symptoms yet. Even with the addition of a facemask, community members need to remain six feet or more away from others when out for essential services.

The above guidance serves to help protect you from COVID-19, in combination with good health hygiene such as washing hands, covering coughs/sneezes, remaining home when ill, avoiding other sick people, and frequently washing surfaces with regular home cleaners.

The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is diligent about the protection of patient privacy, in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and for this reason we cannot release any other information about the patient. The information we release about the positive COVID-19 cases in Tulare County is carefully curated to provide useful information to our community members, while excluding information that would lead to the identification of patients. This is a protection, provided by law, that is extended to everyone.

Updates continue to be available on our website: www.tchhsa.org.